Web supply reel for printing presses



1954 H. L- M WHORTER WEB SUPPLY REEL FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed May 5, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l d m m M Twiit Sh-ft of roll m M M M Inventor Hang L. m: whorter E: *lkLJ-k Feb. 9, 1954 MCWHORTER 2,668,676

WEB SUPPLY REEL FORPRINTING PRESSES Filed May 5, 1952 4 SheetsSheet 2 Feb. 9, 1954 H. 1.. MCWHORTER 2,668,676

WEB SUPPLY REEL FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed May 5, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ERROR AFTER connscrmn 3 I F- u g u 2 g E u zo'-- n: 3.; 6 o g u i z n: 1 5 I h 5 10- 05 9 g m a I n 3 5' Q I a I I i lh. 0 )0 2 3 0 4'0 5'0 6'0 70 was WIDTH mcmzs 7 F545 INVENTOR. H en 'y L. The Wharter BY (MOM 1954 H. M WHORTER 2,668,676

WEB SUPPLY REEL FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed May 5, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ill! mm, on

\\\\\ lo Q-(eyuc5 L). rrLcMLov't'ey Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES WEBSUPPLY REEL FOR PRINTING PRESSES Henry L. McWhorter, Hinsdale, 111., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, Ill'.,- a. corporation: of Illinois ApplicationrMay 3,1952, SerialNo- 285,921

19 Claims.

The present invention relates to reelsfor web fed rotary printing. presses and more particularly to an improved paper reel construction of the rotarymulti-spindl'e type wherein aplura'l'it'y of paper roll" supcrting' spindles are car-- ried in circumferentially spaced positions" about the common central axis of a rotatable" spoollike reel assembly and are supported by'radial- 1y extending; spider arms'which project outward- 1y from the" ends of the. reel" assembly;

Paper reel. mountings of thetype" briefly" out lined above are commonly employed at the loading'zone. of"large web fed rotary' printing presses and usually' they have spindle supports to accommodate three paper rolls arranged 120" apart and" inclirdin'g the actual feeding paper roll, the axis of which during'th'e normalrun of the press, is situated at and extendsgenerallyih thehorizontal plane of the" central reeI assembly supporting shaft a". reserve" paper roll, theaxis of which during'the' normal run or the press, assumes a position above the horizontal plane of the central" shaft and at the other side thereof; and a; freshly-loaded paper-roll; theaxis of which assumes a' position at a loading station or location directly beneath theaxis of the reserve paper roll" and on the sameside of the central shaft as the latter. Paper're'el constructions of this'char a'ctei are generally known as three-arm spider reel assemblies; and these assemblies are capable oflbeing indexed flirough- 120 of" rotationperiodica'l'ly' to' advance each spindle to the posit'fon occupied by'its" predecessor-so that the ex-- piri'ng'feeding roll may" bebrought to the loading station; the reserverollbrought intooperative feeding position; and the freshly loaded roll brought to the reserve position.

Paper reel" constructions of' this typeare ordi nari-ly' indexed by means of an indexing; driving or spur gear which meshes with. a larger gear carried one of the reelf spiders: This spur driving gear not only'serves to perform. the periodic indexing operations of the reel assembly but al'so,.. during the: normal run' of the press, serves: as" a reaction. member which absorbs any existing torque applied to the: reel shaft by vir=- t'u'e'of the unbalanced weight of the loade'd reel spindles, thus holding the entire spool-linepaper reel assembly stationary in any" of. the" three indexed positionsof which: the same; is capable of assuming;

In constructions of this. character; the change that" takes place in the unbalanced weight of the reel: assembly as a whole is: considerable; whether: this change occurs as a" result of the progressive: feeding of the web'from the-feeding roliL, orwhether it' takes place as a result of mclexihgfofi thereeli assembly andconsequentshiftingf of the centm's" of the loaded or unloaded paper. spindles about the central axis: Such changes in the torque load acting upon the reel supporting shaft set up torsional stresses and. consequent torsional deformation of the central shaft which are relatively great when it is considered that the weight of. a full length paper roll. may be as much as two thousand. pounds. The net efiect of such changes in torsional deformation of the central shaft is to set up corresponding changes in the; alinement. of the paper feed roll whereby one end thereof will 'sag,f so to speak,.and cause spindle misalinement. A large component of the misalinement of the paper roll takes place in a plane parallel to the lead ofthe paper web in such a manner that the tensional forces existing in the web are concentrated along one edge thereof and are con,- d'ucive toward frequent web rupture.

Further changesin misal'inement of this character tending to concentrate the tensional forces. of the web. along: one edge thereof may take place by virtue of manufacturing, tolerances in the fitting. of. the spiders tothe central'reel shaft and principally by virtue of" existing Iooseness inthe key by means of which the parts are operatively connected together for rotationlin unison.. Not. only are such changes accentuated additiively, as any particular paper roll. passes over its dead center position with respect. to the central shaft, but also such changes are ac centuated by the mechanical, advantages possessedi by each roll. spindle. due to itsvoffset position. which is farther. removed from. the. axis of; the centralshaftthan is the ofisettpositionoffthe. key.

Heretoiore one. method that. has been employed inan efi'ort. to compensate for Web misalinement has been. the. provision of; a. so-called cocking. roller. on the printing press which is capable. of having oneend, thereof adjusted in a plane perpendicular: to the. lead. of the web after. the same has left. the cocking roller. Thus if the lead; of the web. leaning v the, cooking. roller. is substantially horizontaL. as frequently is the. case, provisionis made for adjusting one end ot the: cooking; roller in a vertical plane.v The use of. a: cooking roller of this character has proven to. be only a partial: remedy in compensating for web misalinement inasmuchv ass theroller canbe adjusted only to. compensate for misalinement of; the paper freed roll when the supporting spider arms therefor are substantially horizontal. and Whenthe paperxroll is-oi full diameter.v When the spider arms are. indexed away from their horizontalposition, the shifting of' the forces acting upon the central reel supporting shaft renders the pre-ad'jilsted position of the. cockingv roller considerably in error while additionally the diminishing weight of the expiring paper feed roll". further effects a graduallchange' in the misali'nement" of the roll which is" at variance with the predetermined setting of the cooking roller.

the above noted limitations that are attendant upon the use of cocking rollers and other expedients for compensating for the changing misalinement of paper feed rolls at the loading zone of a printing press. Accordingly, itis among the principal objects of the present invention, in a reel of the character set forth above, to provide means for completely eliminating the factor of manufacturing tolerances from considerations of paper feed roll alinement.

Another and equally important object of the invention is to provide a paper reel construction of this character having associated therewith means for effectively compensating for torsional deformation of the reel supporting shaft in such a manner that, despite such deformation, the paper feed roll will remain substantially parallel with the axis of the receiving or cooking roller ofthe printing press in all indexed or intermediate positions of the reel assembly and regardless of the amount of paper web which has been spun from the paper feed roll.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a paper reel construction in which the compensating means, both for changes existing by virtue of manufacturing tolerances, or for changing torsional deformation of the paper reel assembly supporting shaft, are wholly contained within the reel construction or assembly itself. Stated in other words, it is an object of the invention to provide a paper reel assembly of this sort having associated therewith built in compensating means for correcting any tendency for misalinement of the paper feed r011 during operation of the printing press.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compensating paper reel construction of the character set forth above in which the means supporting the actual paper feed roll are selfalining during feeding of the printing press from the paper roll so that no manual alining operations involving a cooking roller are required during this period.

' Yet another object of the invention is to provide a paper reel construction of this sort which may be manufactured in its entirety or which, alternatively, may be constructed by slight modification of existing paper reel constructions.

The provision of a paper reel construction which is extremely rugged and durable; one which may be manufactured at a relatively low cost; one which is comprised of a minimum number of relatively moving parts and which consequently is unlikly to get out of order; one which may be readily disassembled for purposes of inspection, repair, or replacement of the working parts thereof; one which requires little or no attention when in use; and one which otherwise is well-adapted to perform the services required of it are further desiderata that have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

This application is a continuation in part of the copending application of Henry L. Mc- Whorter, Serial No. 222,136, filed April 20, 1951, and now abandoned in favor of this application.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially schematic in its representation, of a conventional three-arm spider paper reel construction illustrating the manner in which deflection between the spiders takes place due to torsional deformation of the reel shaft when loaded.

. I Fig. 2 is a side elevational view similar 20 F gl 4 and likewise schematic in its representation illustrating the manner in which torsional deformation of the reel shaft is compensated for according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view partly in section of the reel construction shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 4- 8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line'66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a graph representing certain spindle misalinement normally encountered in connection with three-arm spider reel assemblies and also representing the manner in which compensation therefor is effected according to the present invention.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational section of the modified embodiment taken generally along the line Iii-Ill of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is an elevational section taken generally along the line |lll of Fig. 9, to show the hub construction of the gear end spider shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

In all the above described views, similar characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts throughout.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. the preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that it is not thereby intended to limit the invention to the forms disclosed, but it is intended to cover all equivalents, modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to Fig. 1, wherein a conventional paper reel construction of the three-arm spider type as outlined above has been illustrated, the reel assembly is mounted upon a central supporting shaft l9, hereinafter referred to as the reel shaft which is rotatably journaled at its ends in side frames or standards l2 and I 4 (see also Fig. 3) forming part of the stationary printing press framework I6. The reel assembly, in addition to the shaft l0, involves in its general organ:- ization a pair of roll supporting means in the form of end spiders including a spider l8, hereinafter referred to as the gear side spider, and a spider 20, hereinafter referred to as the free end spider, each spider having three radially extending spider arms 22 of substantially identical construction arranged 120 apart. In the position of the reel assembly shown in Fig. 1, one pair of spider arms labeled with the letter 1 extends downwardly at an angle of approximately 30 from a vertical plane passing through the axis of the shaft 26 so that these arms exist in loading position wherein a roll p of paper may be applied thereto at a loading station s. Another pair of spider arms 22, labeled 1' extend upwardly and are inclined at approximately 30 from the vertical plane of the shaft l0 and are adapted to sup;- p-ort therebetween a reserve paper roll p in what is termed herein as the reserve position. The third pair of spider arms, labeled extend outwardly at an angle of substantially from the vertiqal plane of the shaft l 0 and are adapted to supporttnercbetween a third paper rum fe'edin'g'fi position sotliat aweb orthe apec the roll may be fedfrom the roll to the'first roller 219 or? the printing press.

The spider arms 22 serve t'o' supper-t roll center supporting elements the form of spindles as, suitablem'e'e'in's- (not shown) being provided for enabling these spindles to lie-"Withdrawn from: the

rolls for the purpose of removing the c'o'r'es of expired rolls'and' mounting tresh-roll'so-i apeh on the: reel at the loading. station s The shaft I0 carries atone end thereof: a relatively large; driving of indexing: gear at which is adapted to mesh Witha smaller driving gear 35 by means oi which the spider assembly may peri odically' be indexed inaclockwise direction; as viewed in Fig. 1', throu'eheut an angle of 120- to bring a freshly loaded pap'ci' r'ollipat the load-i ng station s to areserve position wherein its. supporting spiders extend upwardly at angle of 30 from the vertical tobring the" reserve paper roll p from the reserve position to the" feeding position wherein its supporting: spider arms" extendi 90"" from the vertical; andto" bi an expiring paper roll from feeding" positionto l'daidiiigposi tion at e loa'din gstati'on s'.

Since the operati drive for central reel shaft. I9 is obtained atone end} oi the shaft only, and exists by" virtue oithe driving gear ac, this glean notonly serves" to perform the periodic indexing operations'of thereel-assembly but also; during: the normal of press, serves as a member which absorbs any existing torque applied to the reel shaft and therefore holds the: paper: reel assembly stationary in any of its: three indexed positions.-

With the shaft i 9 thus.- liel'd against rotational movement by virtue of the gears 2 2 and to on the gear end on the sl' iaf-tjtherewill: be a certain amount. of lateral. or downward deflection of the fan e'n'dspider arm: labeled f" in the? feeding position-3 by virtueof torsional stresses; that are: applied to" the shat-t I 6 due to the: unbalanced weight ot the paperrzcllspon the various spindles 28: This defiection maybe; described asa? sagging a ot the far: or? free end spider: 2i? as vi'ewedi Fig, 1'. The deflection. between th uncompensated: posit'ion of the f ofthe gear side: spider and the position of the arm: fi'o t thence: endspidcn' has been illustrated: in Fig; 1: by the angle 0.- This angle represents the: amount of torsiona deflection: of the section of the shaft. l t: existing hetween the two spiders and. it-

proportional to length of the paper'roll supported upon the spindle 25-- between. the; tWospid'eisc- Theamount of torsionalz deflection represented by the angle 0 is also proportional to the unbalanced weight: of

the paper? rolls? which likewise is proportional to theleng-th of a. paper. roll. Therefore thetorsional deflection of the section ofthes existing: between the two spiders is proportional to the square of thep aper roll length;

The: deflection as represented by the angle 0 inFig. 1 will vary for? dificr'e'nt'v paper roll riiount ine's as" well as for" different" paper roll lengths;

but th disclosure of the drawings 'beenirna cle on the basis of a full? length roll; In s'uoh inlengthpaper. rolls such-as half and quarter rolls These rolls may be positioned. on the tool assemhl'y at any desiredltransverse.location and: the two piders [8' and 20' may be. adjusted along the 6 shaft P0 to the: proper positions for. effective spindlersupport.

The. angle 0: illustrated. in Fig. 1: is? not only representative of: the: torsional deflectionof. the length of the shaft H) existing; between the two spiders I 3- and zit-but it also is inclusiv ofv a misalignment between thetwo spidersthatoccurs as the result of manufacturing tolerances in=th fit of the spiderson-thefreel shaftlsey 3-2. This-discrepancy existing near thecenter of rotationof the: reel assembly, is materially magnified at the region of eccentricity of the. spindles 26'- by' virtue of the mechanical: advantage possessed by the spindles due totheh further ofisetposition. The mechanical advantage of the spindles 2fi over the lrey 32 is approximately 72.1 andthe: resultant misalinement due to manufacturing tolerances is therefore seven times the-difference in the tolerances of the two spiders on: the: key. This misali-nement is accentuated additively as each paper" rollspindle passes: over its (lead centerposition: thus throwing the weight of thepaper. roll from: one sideof the: vertical. longitudinal plane ofthe shaft to theother. side thereof In Figs; 8 to 6-, inclusive,.a-preferredmeans-foi: compensating for: the; defiectionbetween the two spiders I8 and 220 is. illustrated. Briefly, the-fac to]: of manufacturing tolerance is. completely eliminated. by the expedient ot tightening the free end spider casting to" the elongated leey 32- with setscrews that extend into-the sidesot the key instead oi into the outer face of the key, while compensation for the rotational deflection of the reel shaft IYB iseffected by elastically mounting the gear side spider on the reelshaft so that the spider. may yield. to an extent sub.- stantiaily commensurate with the amount-0t torsional deflection of the-reel-shait i-(Lall ina mannor that will nowbe more fully described.-

As shown inFigv'Z} thehub- 34 of theireeend spider 2 6 isprovidedwith a; k-eyway 33- designed for: reception thereon at. the key 32-. A plurality of pairs of alinedbox-e535 projecting. through the hub. 34 communicate with thekeyway 33 and a plurality of set screws 36 threadedly received in the. bores. 3 5 are adapted to have their. endsabut agai'nstthe sides of the key 32 to effectively prevent angular turning, movement of the spider 23 as a Whole relativeto the free. of the shaft til. (Qneofl these set screws 3&1 may he brazed. in position. as indicated after initial adjustment thereofl The spider casting [8' is provided with. a keyway 36 (Fig 63 for receptionof the shaitkey 3 2. This keyway it is somewhat wider than. the standard. keyway employed in. connection with the construction. in. Fig. '1. that. a clearance 39 (Fig. 6?)" is provided between the castingandkey on opposite sidesof the latter. Thus. the sp casting is capable of limited angular movement onthesfiaft HL. Atorquecollar 33 (Fig. 4) having a sleeve portion 41: and a radially extending flange, 48' at one. end thereofi is mounted on the shaft l6 and. occupies a position in. close-proximity to the. spider ['8- and is securedto the-latter through the medium of. yieldable spring means in the form of an elastic torque transmit.- ting. sleeve. member 421 the natu-re of which will be madeclear presently- The sleeve. portion of. the torque collar. 38 is provided'l with a plurality of. pairs. of alined threaded. bores M. (Fig. 55 which. communicate with. a l'ceyway 461 formed in the sleeve; The keyway 46 is slightly greater in widthrthanthe width of. the key 32: so that clearance space 43 is provided on each side of the key when the collar is in position on the shaft l0. Set screws 50 threadedly received in the bores 44 are adapted to bear at their inner ends against the sides of the key 32 so that the collar 38 is firmly held against angular turning movement with respect to the portion of the shaft ill on which it is mounted.

The sleeve member 42 is provided with an inner radially extending flange portion 52 and a similar outer radially extending flange portion 54. The flange portion 52 is secured to the outer hub 56 of the spider l8 by means of a series of circumferentially spaced studs 58 while the flange 54 is secured to the flange 40 of the torque collar 38 by means of a similar series of circumferentially spaced studs 60. The length of the elastic sleeve member 42 may be slightly greater than the distance between the inner face of the flange 40 and the outer face of the hub 56 so that a slight clearance such as is shown at 62 (Fig. 4) is provided between the inner end of the torque collar and the outer face of the hub. The elastic sleeve member 42 is preferably formed of hardened spring steel and a series of longitudinally extending elongated slots 64 (Figs. 3 and are provided in the medial regions of the sleeve between the two flanges 52 and 50, the slots defining therebetween a series of parallel extending struts 66 which are adapted to yield or flex in a circumferential direction to an extent which is directly proportional to the amount of torque applied to the flange 52 by the hub 56 when torsional deformation of the reel shaft l0 and consequent misalinement between the spider 20 and a fixed reference point on the shaft l0 occurs.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the axis X-X represents the horizontal plane of a fixed imaginary reference point provided on the shaft I0, which reference point for convenienc has been shown as being the center line of the key 32. The axis YY represents the deflection of the arm f of the spider 20 relative to this fixed reference point due to torsional deflection of the shaft It with two of the paper rolls mounted on the reel assembly and in the reserve and feeding positions respectively. Due to the angular yieldability of the spider l8 existing by virtue of the flexible mounting therefor just described, the axis YY also indicates approximately the angular deflection of the arm f of the spider l8. Thus, the two arms 1 of the spiders l8 and 2%) respectively are substantially in coincidence so that the web roll supported therebetween is substantially horizontal; The manner in which such compensation for torsional deflection of the central reel shaft takes place will be clear from the above description when considered in connection with the graph of Fig. 8. However, in this graph a more extreme condition is portrayed wherein two paper rolls are installed on the reel assembly with the supporting spindles 26 therefor disposed in the loading and reserve positions respectively. Such a condition is a normal one and would exist immediately prior to a pasting operation with the roll at the feeding position substantially expired. In the graph of Fig. 8, the horizontal abscissae represent the width of the web undergoing feeding to the printing press, or correspondingly, the width of the paper rolls mounted on the reel as sembly. The vertical ordinates represent spindle misalinement or the difference in spindle deflection between the spiders l8 and (Figs. 1 and 2), in thousandths of an inch. The curved graph line represents spindle deflection at the free end spider 20 for different lengths of paper rolls, due to torsional deflection of the shaft 10 and corresponding angular deflection of the spider 20, relative to the uncompensated position of the spider 18. This is a measure of the deflection between the two spiders that would normally occur in the absence of the elastic mounting for the gear side spider l8. 7

The straight graph line represents spindle deflection at the gear side spider 18 for the different lengths of paper rolls, when the gear side spider I 8 is permitted the restricted movement afforded it by the elastic mounting of the present invention. The distance between points on the two lines along the same ordinate represents any uncorrected spindle misalinement that may remain after the gear side spider has been moved angularly under the influence of the elastic mounting.

The zero ordinate point indicates that with no paper on the spindles there would be no torsional deflection of the shaft [0 and consequently no discrepancy between the positions of the two spiders l8 and 20. With approximately 34 inch, or half width paper rolls mounted on the reserve and loading spindles 26, the spindle deflection at the free end spider 20 is approximately .011 inch while the spindle deflection at the gear side spider is approximately .017 inch. Thus the actual spindle misalinement is only .006 inch and this misalinement is sufiiciently small that it may be disregarded as a factor of web misalinement. With half width rolls thus mounted on the spindles and with the extreme condition outlined above, the maximum spindle misalinement that may be expected at any time takes place. This negligible misalinement is the result of overcorrection by the elastic mounting of the gear side spider. With three-quarter width rolls of approximately 51 inches, spindle misalinement is approximately .002 inch and with paper widths of approximately 56 inches, complete coincidence between lines of the graph indicates that perfect correction takes place so that no spindle misalinement exists. For full width rolls of approximately 68 inches, the spindle deflection at the free end spider I8 is at a maximum of approximately .039 inch while spindle deflection at the gear side spider I8 is approximately .034. Thus there is a slight undercorrection of approximately .005 inch which, for practical purposes in paper web feeding, is negligible.

From the above description it will be seen that the linear correction afforded by the elastic mounting for the gear side spider 18 cannot completely compensate for the quadratic deflection of the free end spider 20 except for a particular paper roll width. However, the maximum misalinement that may be expected is sufliciently small as to present no problem in web feeding operations and, as a consequence, the persent invention provides a means for maintaining the web rolls at all times in substantial alinement with the first receiving roller of the printing press within tolerable limits.

The disclosure of the invention made herein has not considered the factor of beam deflection wherein deflection of the reel shaft H] as a beam becomes a consideration. It is worth mentioning, however, that in certain centrally offset positions of fractional width paper rolls along the supporting central shaft l0 there is a deflection of thecentral shaft l0 when considered as a beam which additively applies a fixed deflection to the 9 entire shaft and spider assembly. This abeam deflection may "readily be -corrected by the pro.- vision of 1a cocking roller on the printing press which is set permanently "for that particular lat.- eral position of the spiders to compensate for the'fixed amountiof deflection. A relatively small amount of torsional deflection takes place :in the shaft 19 in:tha't section thereof @ex-isting :between the gear :28 and torque collar :33. "Due :to to the fact that this deflection causes :no relati-ye deflection between the two spiders l8 .and 20 it has not been considered the .present .disclosure.

All other discrepancies in alinement of the paper :feed spindle .except those :just mentioned above are satisfactorily compensated :for by :the present invention.

Figs. 19, .10, and 11 viillustrate .a modified :embodiment of the invention, comprising a :paper reel 70 which is similar in some respects to the reel :shown in Figs. -:1-18. 'Thus :the shaft 19., the press :iram-ework .16, 'the free end spider 2.31, the roll spindles 25, .and the gear 28 :remain :unchanged ;in-.the :modified reel 0. The outer aends of the :paper rolls :are supported by the free .end spider 2,9, which is rigidly mounted .on1the shaft In mear :its -o.uter end. Because .of the torsional compliance or elasticity .iof :the shaft .10, "the weight iOf athe :paper rolls and :the pull of :the web :"produce .anran'gular :deflection of the :spider Zlltrelative -.to1the:gear28.. This @defiection would result :in askewing of the ;paper rolls, Tif 'lett uncompensated, :and would tend to .cause breaks in the *web.

:As in :the;first rembodiment, however, :the :inner arms :14 support .the atoll :center supporting Glee mentsior spindles 2.6. rnhub l6 isformedzintegrally with .the arms :14 for rrigidly securing ithe latter to :the 136.611Sh2jf17 I B. .As shown :in ;Fig. 2111', the hub $16 comprises ;a. keyway :18 iormed :therein for receiving :the key 3.2, together with ;a rpair of set screws 80 :engageablewithptheside of th key. To provide for a small amount aof an ular adjustment of the spider '12 -1on :the shaft I.0,: th.e keyway 18 is madersubstantially wider than the key .32.

Because of their zrelativiel-y light @construction, the arms 14 deflect-slightly under 'the weight of the paper .rolls. For .a particular spacing of rthe spiders 2!) and 12 along the shaft is, :the :torsional compliance A of the arms 12 .-is :egual to 1 the torsional compliance of theportioncf theshait between -.the spiders, -so that 1 exact compensation is, provided. for rtheangulardeflection of-the shaft. As fully explained tin connection .with the gfi'I'Si) embodiment, a :slight -;but insignificant .overcompensation is obtained when the .spiders are moved closer "together {to accommodate narrow rolls, \while a :slight undercompensation iresults from spreading r-the spiders to F handle wide molls. As .a practical compromise, the elasticity {of the spider 12 :may be :such -,t o .aiford texact :compensaticn when lthe 1 spacing between :spiders ceiying ,thereon a paper roll, means for appl 1.0 such as to accommodate 56 inch rolls, which would :be slightly wider than standard three.- quarter width rolls.

The second embodiment is extremely simple in construction and low in co t, sinc e spider can :be. manufactured :nearl-y easily ngi economically as anaordinary rigid spider. Moreover, a :conventional uncompensated paper may he converted :into a comp ns ted 7. 6 tea bodyins this invention, merely by replant n the usual rigid gear end spider --,with an elastic spider, without otherwise :modirying the reel.

1 claim as my invention:

1. 1A reel sasseniiily :for printing presses 50pmprising a centralsupporting shaft mounted for rctation about a horizontal ;;a;xis, a pair of radially extending supporting arm moun ed on said shaft in spaced relationship, :1011 supporting elements carried at the iouter ends of said arms for receiving zthereon paper roll, .tmeans -;or applying torque to one end of said shaft to index the sshatt and more the roll :from :a Jeanine p9- sition to :a :feeding zpos ion wherein the oll ;a s.- sumes a n sit onioffaet if-rcm :th tv rticalznlan tqf the axis -;0f said shaft, means 'for secpring one or said :arms to said shaft a ain turnin im vemitting lim ted an ular defl ctio of th arm relative :to the shaitat it i e-m ano attaqhment substanti lly in propor io t th some exe ted upon said latter arm thmughsaid :roll support.- ing element thereon by said paper roll.

'2. iii-reel assemblyior printing presses-comprise n ,a central su porting sha t mounted .t or 1. tation about a horizontal axis, ,a pair :of aadially xt d un nes'a m mount c said shaft in spaced relationship, rollsupporting ,elements carried :at the outer ends :of :said arms for meme torque itolone end of said shaft !to index thei llaiit and move said roll :from (a -loading position ,to

a feeding position wherein the ,roll assumes ,-a position offset from the vertical ;;plane pf @lihe axis of said shaftsmeans or:securingson iefi i arms to .said shaft against turning movement relative thereto, :and elastic ,means ,for securing the other arm -.to ;said shaft while permitting limited aturning movement of rthe arm relative to the shait substantially in direct proportion.

to the unbalanced atorgue ofw saidaother arm. I

3. ,-A reclassemhly for :printing presses u coniprising ;a centra supporting shaft mounted aforrotation about a horizontal axis, a pairlorrspiders each -,having,a-.pluralityof radiallyrextending, sup.- porting {arms :formed thereon mqunted 0.1 ssaid shaft .at opposite .ends .thereoj, said arms being arranged in substantially ,alined ,pai-rs, roll supporting elements adapted to .receive .a paper roll thereon .carried at the outer ends .o said arms, means for applying torque .to .one .end pf said shaft .to ,indexthe .shait andmove ,saidrollsgpporting elements successively through loading, reserve and .ieeding positions, gmeans for gfixedly securing one of .saidspiders ,torone end Qfsaid shaft against .turning ,movement with respect to; saidv end, a and :yieldable meansi or securing .the other spider :to the otherend of Esaidshaft while p r n limite t rnin movement ithereof relative to :said :latter end ,:-subs.tantially tproportion :tovthe torque exerted lmcn said .latter spider through :Said roll su pporting elements ihy th ip p rolls mountedithereon.

{1. A vreelrassenrlhly :.for printing Dresses comrising a acentral :suppcrtine shaft :mounted EfgQl' rotation about a horizontal axis, a pair of spiders each having a plurality of radially extending supporting arms formed thereon mounted on said shaft at opposite ends thereof, said arms being arranged in substantially alined pairs, roll supporting elements adapted to receive paper rolls thereon carried at the outer ends of said arms, means for applying torque to one end of said shaft to index the shaft and move said roll supporting elements successively through loading, reserve and feeding positions, means for fixedly securing one of said spiders to the other end of said shaft against turning movement with respect to said latter end, and yieldable means for securing the other spider to the first specified end of said shaft while permitting limited turning movement thereof relative to said first specified end substantially in proportion to the torque exerted upon said latter spider through said roll supporting elements by the paper rolls mounted thereon.

5. A reel assembly for printing presses comprising a central supporting shaft mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a pair of s iders each having a plurality of radially extending supporting arms formed thereon mounted on said shaft at opposite ends thereof, said arms being arranged in substantially alined pairs, a plurality of roll supporting elements adapted to receive paper rolls thereon carried at the outer ends of said arms, means for applying torque to one end of said shaft to index theshaft and move said roll supporting elements successively through loading, reserve and feeding positions, means for fixedly securing one of said spiders to the other end of said shaft against turning movement with respect to said latter end, a torque collar fixedly mounted on said shaft adjacent the other spider, and elastic means for securing said torque collar to said latter spider to permit limited turning movement of said latter spider relative to said torque collar substantially in proportion to the torque exerted upon said latter spider through said roll supporting elements by the paper rolls mounted thereon.

6. A reel assembly for printing presses comprising a central supporting shaft mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a pair of spiders each having a plurality of radially extending supporting arms formed thereon mounted on said shaft at opposite ends thereof, said arms being arranged in substantially alined pairs, a plurality of roll supporting elements adapted to receive paper rolls thereon carried at the outer ends of said arms, means for applying torque to one end of said shaft to index the shaft and move said roll supporting elements successively through loading, reserve and feeding positions, means for fixedly securing one of said spiders to the other end of said shaft against turning movement with respect to said latter end, a torque collar fixedly secured to said shaft adjacent the other spider and on the side thereof remote from said fixedly secured spider, and elastic means connecting said torque collar to said other spider while permitting limited turning movement thereof relative to the torque collar substantially in proportion to the torque exerted upon said latter spider through said roll supporting elements by the paper rolls mounted thereon.

'7. A reel assembly for printing presses comprising a central supporting shaft mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a pair of spiders each having a plurality of radially extending supporting arms formed thereon mounted on said shaft at'opposit'e ends thereof, said arms being arranged in substantially alined pairs, a plurality of roll supporting elements adapted to receive paper rolls thereon carried. at the outer ends 'of said arms, means for applying torque to one end of said shaft to index'the shaft and move said roll supporting elements successively through loading, reserve and feeding positions, means for fixedly securing one of said spiders to the other end of said shaft against turning movement-with respect to said latter end, a torque collar fixedly secured to said shaft adjacent said other spider on the side thereof remote from said fixedlyisee.

cured spider, and a series of elastic struts lsecured at one end to said torque collar and at the other end to said otherspider and constituting yieldable means for securing said other spider to the torque collar while permitting limited turning movement thereof relative to the torque collar.

8. A reel assembly for printing presses com-i prising a central supportingshaft mounted'for rotation about a horizontal axis, first and second spiders each having a plurality of radially 'ex-' tending supporting arms formed thereon mounted on said shaft at opposite ends thereof, said arms being arranged in substantially alined'pairs, a plurality of roll supporting elements adapted to receive paper rolls thereon carried at the outer ends of said arms, means for applying? torque to one end of said shaft to index the shaft and move said roll supporting elements succes-i sively through loading, reserve'and feeding positions, means for fixedly securing the first spider" to the other end of said'shaft against turning movement with respect to said end, a torque collar-secured to said shaft adjacent thesecond spider, and elastic means operatively connecting the second spider and torque collar and permitting limited yieldable turning movement of the second spider relative to the torque collar substantially in proportion to the torque exerted upon said latter spider through said roll sup-' porting elements by the paper rolls mounted thereon.

9. A reel assembly for printing presses comprising a central supporting shaft mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, first and second spiders each having a plurality of radially exmove said roll supporting elements successively through loading, reserve and feeding positions means for fixedly securing the first spider to the other end of said shaft against turning movement with respect to said end, a torque collar secured to said shaft on the side of said second spider remote from said first spider, and a series of elastic struts connected at one end to said, torque collar andat the other end to said second spider, said struts permitting limited turning movement of said second spider on said shaft.

10. A reel assembly for printing presses comprising a central supporting shaft mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, first and sec ond spiders each having a plurality of radially' arms formed thereon extending supporting mounted on said shaft at opposite ends thereof, said arms being arranged in substantially alined pairs, a plurality of roll supporting elements resilient material having an elastic limit above the limit of torque normally :applied to said second spider through said spindles by :the paper rolls mounted :thereon, said spool-like member having a sleeve-like medial region providedwith end flanges, means for securing one ofsaid end flanges to said torque collar, and means :io'r :se-

curing the-other end flange to the-second spider;

11. 4A :reel assembly for printing presses comprising a central supporting shaft mounted .for rotation about a horizontal axis, first :and second spiders each having a plurality of radially extending supporting arms formed thereon mounted on said shaft at opposite ends thereof, said arms :being arranged in substantially alined pairs, a plurality of roll supporting elements adapted to receive paper rolls thereon carried-at the outer ends of saidarms, means for applying torque to one end of saidsha'ft to index the shaft and move said roll supporting elements successively through loading, reserve and feeding positions, means for fixedly seourin'g the first spider to the other end of said shaft against:

turning movement with respect to said end, a torque collar secured to said shaft on the side of said second spider remote from said first spider, an elastic spool-like torque member capable of torsional deformation and formed of yieldable resilient material having an elastic limit above the limit of torque normally applied to said second spider through said spindles by the paper rolls mounted thereon, said spool-like member having a sleeve-like medial region providedwith end flanges, means for securing one of said end fianges to said torque collar, andmeans for securing the other end flange to the second spider, there being a series of elongated slots formed in the medial regions of said torque collar providing intervening torque struts extending between said end flanges.

12. A reel assembly for printing presses comprising a central supporting shaft mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis,-a key "fitted to said shaft and substantially coextensive therewith, first and second metallic spiders each having a plurality of radially extending supporting arms formed thereon mounted on said shaft at opposite ends thereof and having 'keyways designed ior reception of said key therein, said arms being arranged in substantially alined pairs, a plurality of roll supporting elements adapted to receive paper rolls thereon carried at the outer ends of saidarms, means for applying torque to one end of the shaft to index the shaft and move the roll supporting elements successively throughloading, reserve and feeding :positions, set screws extending through the metal of said first spider and engaging the opposite sides oisaid key, the keyway in said second spider being substantially wider than the width of said key to provide clearance portions on opposite sides of the key, a metallic torque collar mounted on said shaft adjacent said second spider and havinga ikeyway therein :for rrecep tion of said key, set screws iextendingfthroug h Y the metal or :s'aid It'orque collar and engaging said key :on opposite sides thereof, and elastic means connecting said torque collar and :seeond spider.

l B. reel assembly oomprising in conibinatio'n, a central supporting shait mounted for rotation about a horizontal -ax-i's, a driving gear on one end or said shaft, a first spider mou ntedo'n said shaft adjacent :said :gear, a second spider fixedly momited on sa'id shaft at the end thereof-12emote from said gear, elastic coupling means for limiting rotational movement of said first spider rela'ti e to the shaft, and a plurality of :paper roll supporting elements supported by said spiders in spaced relationship.

14. a reel assembly for printing presses, a central supporting shaft mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a driving gear mounted on one end of said shaft, a first spider mounted on said shaft adjacent "said driving gear, a second spider mounted on said shaft adjacent the end thereof remote from said gear, a key secured to said shaft and substantially coextensive therewith, said key being secured to said second spider to fixedly connect the latter to said shaft and prevent relative rotation between said latter spider and shaft, there being a clearance space formed in said first spider for said hey permitting limited rotational -movement of the spider relative to said 's'h'ai t, an elastic coupling connecting said first spider and shaft and restraining rotational movement of the spider relative to said shaft, and a plurality of paper "roll supporting elements supported by said spiders.

15. in 'a reel for supporting "a plurality of web rolls for a printing "press, the combination "comprising a rotatably mounted horizontal shaft, first supporting means connected to said shaft and having a plurality of first roll center supporting elements spaced about said shaft "for rotatably supporting one end of each web 'rol'l, indexing means connected to said shaft ata'point spaced therealong "from said first supporting means "for rotating said shaft to "bring each roll in succession into a predetermined position in which the roll will be unwound, second supporting means connected to said shaft and having a plurality of second roll center supporting elements spaced about "said shaft for supporting the other end "of each roll, said second supporting means being disposed along said shaft between said first supporting means and said indexing means, said first supporting means being subject to varying torsional deflection relative to said indexing means as said shaft is rotated and the rolls are unwound, said torsional deflection resulting in lateral deflection of said first roll 'cen-- ter supporting elements about the axis of said rolls for a printing press, the combination come prising a 'rotatably mounted horizontal shaft, first supporting means including a first spider and means for connecting said spider to said shaft, said spider having a plurality of first roll center supporting elements spaced about said shaft for rotatably supporting one end of each web roll, indexing means connected to said shaft at a point spaced from said first spider for rotating said shaft to bring each roll in succession into a predetermined position in which the roll will be unwound, second supporting means including coupled means consisting of a second spider and means for connecting said second spider to said shaft, said second spider being disposed along said shaft between said first spider and said indexing means and having a plurality of second roll center supporting elements for supporting the other end of each roll, said first supporting means being subject to varying torsional deflection relative to said indexing means under the weight of said rolls as said shaft is rotated and said rolls are unwound, said torsional deflection resulting in lateral deflection of said first roll center supporting elements about the axis of said shaft, and one of said coupled means including spring means interposed between said second roll center supporting elements and said shaft to provide for lateral deflection of said second roll center supporting elements about the axis of said shaft by an amount corresponding generally to said lateral deflection of said first roll center supporting elements so as to avoid misalinement between said first and second roll center supporting elements.

17. In a reel for supporting a plurality of web rolls for a printing press, the combination comprising a rotatably mounted horizontal shaft, supporting means connected to said shaft and having a plurality of first roll center supporting elements spaced about said shaft for rotatably supporting one end of each web roll, indexing means connected to said shaft at a point spaced therealong from said supporting means for rotating said shaft to bring each roll in succession into a predetermined position in which the roll will be unwound, a spider connected to said shaft at a point therealong between said supporting means and said indexing means and having a plurality of second roll center supporting elements spaced about said shaft for supporting the other end of each roll, said supporting means being subject to varying torsional deflection relative to said indexing means as said shaftis rotated and the rolls are unwound, said torsional deflection resulting in lateral deflection of said first roll center supporting elements about the axis of said shaft, a portion of said lateral deflection being due to the torsional deflection of the portion of said shaft extending between said supporting means and said spider, and said spider including spring means in the form of a plurality of thin flexible. generally radial spring arms on said spider and supporting said second roll center supporting elements to provide for lateral deflection thereof by an amount corresponding generally to said lateral deflection of said first roll center supporting elements to compensate for said torsional deflection of the portion of said shaft extending between said supporting means and said spider and thereby avoid misalinement between said first and second roll center supporting elements.

18. In a reel for supporting a plurality of web rolls for a, printing press, the combination comprising a rotatably mounted horizontal shaft, a substantially rigid first spider adjustably movable' along said shaft and having aplurality'df first roll center supporting elements spacedabout said shaft for rotatably supporting oneend of each web roll, means for releasably securing said first spider to said shaft, indexing means con-.

nected to said shaft at a point spaced therealong from said first spider for rotating said shaft to bring each roll in succession into a predetermined position in which the roll will be unwound, a second spider adjustably movable along said shaft between said first spider and said indexing means and having a plurality of second roll center supporting elements spaced about said shaft for supporting the other end of each roll, means for releasably securing said second spider to said shaft, said first spider being subject to varyingtorsional deflection relative to said indexing."

means as said shaft is rotated and the rolls are unwound, said torsional deflection being largely,

due to the torsional elasticityv of said shaft, said torsional deflection resulting inlateral deflection of said first roll center supporting elements about g the axis of said shaft, and said second spider ineluding spring means in the form of a plurality of thin flexible generally radial spring arm on said second spider and supporting said second roll center supporting elements to compensate for the torsional deflection of the portion of said shaft between said first and second spiders for a predetermined spacing between said spiders andthereby equalize the lateral deflections of said first and second roll center supporting elements to avoid misalinement therebetween.

19. In a reel for supporting a plurality of web rolls for a printing press, the combination comprising rotatable indexing means, first supporting means coaxial with said indexing means and having a plurality of first roll center supporting means spaced around the rotary axis of said indexing means for supporting one end of each web roll, means for connecting said first supportunder the weight of said rolls as said first and second supporting means are rotated and vthe rolls are unwound, said torsional deflection re- 1 sulting in lateral deflection of said first roll cen- 1 ter supporting means, and said second supporting means having resilient means interposed between said second roll center supporting means and said indexing means to provide for lateral deflection of said second roll center supporting means byan amount corresponding generally to said lateral deflection of said first roll center supporting means to avoid misalinement of said first and second roll center supporting means HENRY L. MCWHORTERQ References Cited in the file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,945,670 Wood Feb. 6, 1934; 2,095,019

Wood Oct. 5, 1937' 

